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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
After Illinois played Kansas on Sept. 7 in front of a sell-out crowd at Memorial Stadium, a second sellout of the season was announced on Wednesday night when the Illini host Michigan on Oct. 19.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Two sellouts in one season for Illinois football — something that hasn’t happened since 2009 — is here. Illinois announced Wednesday night a crowd of 60,670 will be on hand for the much-anticipated game against Michigan on Oct. 19.
➜ 2. Even if it is less than a month before the season starts for both the Illini men’s and women’s basketball programs, Wednesday brought about what time most of their regular-season games will actually take place. It’s about time.
➜ 3. Always good to see when former area standouts return to their high school and become a head coach. The latest example is Centennial baseball bringing Luke Smith back as the Chargers’ next coach.
From left, Tate Sigler, Bo Zeleznik and Landon Welte of the LeRoy football team. The undefeated Panthers are ranked third in the state in Class 1A.
Numbers game: 6
area high school football teams who are 6-0 and earned a spot in the Associated Press Top 10 statewide polls that were released on Wednesday. In Class 3A, St. Joseph-Ogden is third and Paxton-Buckley-Loda is seventh. In 2A, Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin is sixth and Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond is ninth. And in 1A, LeRoy is third and Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley is fifth.
Illini soccer coach Janet Rayfield slaps hands with her goalie, Izzy Lee, right, and defender Angie Gallo after they were guests on ‘Monday Night SportsTalk,’ this week at the Esquire in downtown Champaign.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Purdue at Illinois football. Have to think Kaden Feagin and the rest of the Illini running backs like what they’re seeing on film this week from the Boilermakers’ defense. Purdue enters Saturday ranked 131st in the country in stopping the run.
➜ 2. Southern Cal at Illinois soccer. The Illini (6-5-2, 2-3-1 Big Ten) have their work cut out when they host the 19th-ranked Trojans (9-1-2, 5-0-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Demirjian Park in Champaign.
➜ 3. Illinois at Michigan volleyball. Former Illini Erin Virtue is the coach of the resurgent Wolverines (13-2-1) and former Champaign Central standout Mira Chopra suits up for Michigan. The two programs meet at 6 p.m. Friday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Brad Dalton and his St. Thomas More volleyball team
Coach’s corner
Three questions with St. Thomas More volleyball coach Brad Dalton:
➜ 1. My favorite sports teams are … the Illinois football and basketball teams and the Atlanta Braves.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Brad Underwood, Bill Self and Bret Bielema.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … as a coach, kids not giving their best effort. In life, people driving slow in the passing lane.